OP-ED: New Jersey Transit and Federal Transit Administration -- Perfect Partners

Don't blame Washington for New Jersey Transit's financial problems. Federal support for transportation has grown over time. When a crises occurred, be it 9-11 in 2001 or Superstorm Sandy in 2012, Washington was there. Additional assistance above and beyond yearly formula Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocations was provided. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided more. In 2020, $1.475 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding was provided. 

Most federal transportation grants require a 20-percent hard-cash local share. FTA frequently has accepted toll credits instead of hard cash. This saves NJ Transit more than $180 million yearly.

This year, NJ Transit should receive $1.2 billion from various FTA programs plus potentially up to $41 million more under competitive discretionary programs. Sources include $343.86 million under Section 5307 for bus and rail preventative maintenance, capital lease payments, dual power locomotives, locomotives, reconstruction of the Elizabeth Intermodal Station, repairs to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Weehawken Tunnel, MMC building perimeter flood control, reconstruction of Lyndhurst Station and South Jersey BRT Avandale Park and Ride; $277.48 million Section 5337 State of Good Repair for bus and rail preventative maintenance, dual power locomotives, signal renewal restoration of Newark Penn Station Boiler along with improvements to Newark Penn Station electric system; $34.92 million Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities for articulated buses; $11.57 million Sections 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities and Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program; $167.50 million of Federal Highway Administration transfer for multi-level rail cars,Hudson Bergen Light Rail Route 440 Extension, Perth Amboy Intermodal ADA Improvements, Hoboken Ferry and Passaic Bus Terminal; $363.94 million Section 5324 Public Transportation Emergency Relief and $41.52 million for proposed discretionary funding that includes articulated buses, bus lifts, passenger ferry, rehabilitation of the Greenville Bus Garage, electric buses and positive train control projects.

NJ Transit takes advantage of FTA pre-award authority prior to grant approval. This affords NJ Transit opportunity to start projects months earlier and incur costs for reimbursement at a later date after grant approval. NJ Transit currently manages an active portfolio of federally-funded capital improvement projects and programs in open grants worth $2.6 billion in FTA financial assistance.

Congratulations to NJ Transit for winning a $14,672,995 million Bus Discretionary Grant from the Federal Transit Administration as announced on August 11 by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. This was one of approximately $464 million in transit infrastructure grants nationwide to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility for transit riders. A total of 96 projects in 49 states and territories will receive funding from FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The demand far exceeded available funds, as FTA received 282 applications totaling approximately $1.8 billion in funding requests from 51 states and territories.

NJ Transit will receive $14,672,995 funding to rehabilitate its Wayne Bus Maintenance Facility in Passaic County. This project will improve safety and state of good repair, for facilities that were originally built in the 1990's.

Let us give thanks to the hard working men and women of the NJ Transit Federal Grants Unit who made all of this possible, including winning extra federal dollars!

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Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for grants supporting billions in capital projects and programs on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit bus and subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bus and NYC Department of Transportation.